shotglassHey, welcome back to another Windows 10 Shots blog post.  I hope you read my last post, Windows 10 Tips – Where Are My Files?

I have mentioned in previous posts, with most shots, after about a handful, things will start to get a little hazy.  But, with Windows 10 Shots (this new series of posts), the hope would be that the opposite would happen.  That clarity and insight into the highly anticipated release would free your mind to great new features and power of Windows 10.

Every once in a while, do you run across something that makes you scratch your head?  Well, for me, there is something that actually comes up more than you would expect.  Users of Windows 10, or even Windows 8, who have never learned how to snap applications.  As I walk by cubes at various clients, it always makes me laugh when I see someone trying to position multiple windows next to each other.

Snapping windows around has been around for a while, but in Windows 10, you get a really cool new feature called Snap Assist.  It is simple, but really useful.

Snap Side-by-side

What if we want to snap two windows side by side?  Please, please, please don’t try to drag and resize them.  There is a better way.

snap assist 1

To make it easier, you can do one of two things:

  1. Mouse – Use the mouse to sling applications around like a chef cutting up his food.
    1. With your mouse, click and hold down the left mouse button in the title of the application you would like to Snap.snap assist 2
    2. Drag the application to the left or right side, whichever side you want the application snapped. You will see a window highlight when you hit the edge.snap assist 3
    3. Let go of the left mouse button. You will notice that the application has now snapped to the side.  However, what Windows 10 has done for you is provided you a list of applications that are currently running. You can use this list to snap another application next to your currently snapped application – making it easier for you.snap assist 4
    4. Now Select the other application and it will be automatically be snapped next to your other application.snap assist 5
    5. That’s it! Pretty nice huh?
  2. Keyboard – in true efficient fashion, snap windows around without ever leaving the keyboard.
    1. Select the application you want to snap.
    2. Now, you can use the Windows + Arrow Left/Arrow Right to snap and unsnap the application. Give it a try.
    3. Pretty slick huh?

4 Corner Snapping?  Oh my!

What if you want to have more than two applications snapped?  Well, Windows 10 does support 4 corner snapping. (Hope you have a nice monitor with high resolution)

So, let’s take a look at how you would snap 4 applications.

  1. Open up four
  2. With your mouse, click and hold down the left mouse button in the title of the app you would like to Snap.snap assist 6
  3. Now, instead of dragging it to the side, drag it to the corner that you would like it placed. You will see the highlighted area where your application will be placed.snap assist 7
  4. Let go of the mouse button and it should snap into the corner.snap assist 8
  5. Repeat this for the other three applications.snap assist 9
  6. Notice that on the third snap, Windows is smart enough to know you can only snap one more application and prompts you for the last application, saving you some time. Thanks you Windows 10!snap assist 10

 

HAPPY SNAPPING!

If you liked this post, please share it with others and don’t forget to come back for a new feature focused Windows 10 Shot.  Because remember, just like drinking, “1 shot”, probably won’t affect someone, but multiple shots, well that changes everything.